Rain (Stranger in the Woods Book 1) Read online

  I can’t help it. I kiss her. I’m so proud of her. “No. Your baby is unharmed.”

  Eventually we both look to Isolde to continue. Isolde smiles with pride. “Your strength together shows how the fates always lead us well.” She inhales a cleansing breath. “Where are we? Oh yes, therefore, Gunner does not have the means to nurture the young inside Rose. I don’t believe his blood would be strong enough anyhow.”

  Morning Star repeats the words of the Prophecy. “Two bloods of one. We thought it meant the male and female who conceive the baby. Eve’s father was a Warrior, which means Gunner is a Warrior brother of yours, Ryder. That makes you and Gunner connected on a Guardian level. Two bloods of one.”

  Silver eyes beg me. “Ryder, you must see Rose and the baby through, or neither will survive.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Rose

  Outside of Isolde’s home, I walk a few steps to give Ryder a moment to hug Isolde and Morning Star. Maybe it’s me who needs a minute. I’m shell-shocked, to say the least. I’d been expecting and preparing myself to be told I was going to die, not to learn I am pregnant. I start laughing. “Oh, Gunner. We’re in deep shit.” Isolde said there is no need to drug me for the trip home, but I’d kind of enjoy a numbing agent right about now.

  In the distance, I see a lot of people—elves—gathered around the fire, singing songs and playing music.

  Blaze approaches me. “Wow, you look like you got some news in there.”

  “You could say that.”

  “Do you need to sit?”

  I shake my head. If I sit I may not get back up. “No, thank you, I-I just need to breathe, I think.”

  “Usually does the trick when one needs to survive. Wanna know what I say?” I nod, willing to receive any advice. Blaze smiles. “Now don’t make fun of me and my simple words.”

  Blaze somehow reminds me of Gunner, and that’s who I need right now. “No laughter shall cross these lips, Blaze.”

  “Okay, here we go. ‘It is never as bad as it seems.’”

  I grimace. He’s clueless about what I’m going through.

  He raises his palms. “Just listen to the words and their truth, Rose. No matter what, it’s never as bad as you think. There’s more to what you don’t see. See?”

  Blaze and I are going to get along just fine. We speak the same confusing language. I inhale deeply. A smile I can’t stop crosses my face.

  “Thatta girl.”

  I whisper to my new friend, “Thank you.”

  Ryder walks up with other Guardians to escort me home and guard me tonight. The wise voice that has rocked my world this fine evening echoes from behind, “Be sure to give them space to… talk.”

  Blaze gets a delightful grin. He didn’t even have to see her to know his Morning Star was approaching. Simply amazing. She looks a little tired herself as he wraps his arms around her like she’s his whole damn world. The Mohawk rocker kisses his Tinkerbell as if no one is watching. “I’ll be back in the morning.”

  She sniffs him endearingly, as if savoring his scent to hold her over, then steps away with a bowed head. “Be safe, my Warrior.” Blaze watches her with such admiration I feel I’m violating their precious moment. I gaze down until Morning Star reaches for me. “Goodnight, Rose.” She embraces me.

  I hold back tears as I hug her, feeling we shared quite the night. “Thank you, Morning Star, for everything. Even though I am shocked, I’m grateful for your help.”

  Everyone goes quiet. It amazes me that my gratitude brings silence. Ryder reflects, It’s because, even with what you are going through, you still acknowledge others.

  I find shame but truth in my next words, Not a common human trait anymore?

  Has not been for some time.

  I wonder about all the transformations his people have witnessed in humans over the years—decades—centuries. And I wonder if we can ever be as giving as we once were.

  Walking through the woods feels like I’ve stepped into another time zone, another life. I can’t hear them, but I know the other Guardians are nearby, almost as if their presence is more recognizable to me as time passes. Everything I’d been told by Isolde and Morning Star echoes over and over in my head.

  “I can feel your fear.”

  “I’m sorry.” My head drops.

  “No, it’s okay. We will do it all together. Even the fear.”

  “There’s so much of it though. I can’t stop.”

  “You will in time. Just know you are not alone.”

  “Aren’t I though?”

  Ryder stops walking. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m pregnant, Ryder. God, I can’t believe those words are true.” I pace a little. “I think I can handle my life being in danger. I think I can handle being so afraid that I feel crippled. I think I can find a way to handle my life turning upside down. I might even be able to come to terms”— I stop moving—“with the fact that I’m carrying another man’s child but, but, what I know I can’t handle is you—you… you—”

  He steps in front of me. “Me what, Rose? Me what?”

  “You… never wanting to touch me again.”

  He blinks as he staggers back to get away from me. I cover my mouth to hide my painful gasps. I’m right. Ryder and I are done. He glares at the ground and growls, “Please leave.”

  Utter horror slams into my body. I burst into tears. “Ryder, I’m so sorry—”

  “Not you. My brothers.” He looks up from the ground, and his eyes are wild again. Blue light races through them, causing a sudden warmth to rush through my body as I realize I have completely misread his actions. My eyelids feel heavy. My breathing is no longer controlled.

  A thick silence lingers between us. Our heady breaths and his straining body are the only signs of movement. “Are they gone?”

  Ryder’s rigid jaw nods.

  Not knowing where to begin, I say, “Ryder, we were supposed to be together tonight. Now, with all that’s happened, I’m afraid you won’t want me anymore.”

  Ryder’s whole body tightens as he pants. “I want you so bad, I’ll take you where you stand if you would only tell me to do so.”

  His words cause me to exhale. “Please, please take me—” I’m wonderfully slammed up against a tree and crushed by Ryder’s body, and I never even saw him move. Ryder savagely takes my mouth with his and my body with his aggressive hands. I’m gasping with emotions ripping through my heart. “Please, please take me.” Ryder pushes his clothed body to mine even harder, like he wants to crawl inside of me. I want him to. I want him closer than physically possible.

  Air’s not an option as he rips at my clothing while undoing his pants. Ryder says he has never done this before, but nature sure finds a way of leading him right. Every caress maddens me for more. Animalistic needs pour from me as I beg for him, for all of him. Every suck and pull is as heated as a fire dancing inside my body. Ryder is marking my soul to be his… forever.

  Being vulnerable is being exposed.

  Being exposed is being naked.

  Being naked is being raw.

  Raw is without layers.

  Without layers, I’m being me.

  No resistance comes from my body when Ryder lifts me and pulls my legs around his waist, slipping inside me. My tunnel welcomes the unbelievable stretch Ryder demands. I grab hold of his neck and shoulders as if I will be lost for eternity if I don’t surrender. It’s not just being consumed when his body slams into mine. It is being devoured in the most delicious way possible.

  Our bodies move and bend with every thrust. I force my pelvis down harder as his hips forge upward with a strength that reminds me of who is handling whom. I don’t care that he has taken over. It’s almost a relief to be eaten alive because the male taking you simply cannot control himself due to dee
p desires for no one but you.

  The longer we stay joined, the more the intensity builds until there is nowhere else to go. Ryder’s release sends my body into its own release, and together we ride a wave of pure pleasure. I believe my heart may explode as I kiss him everywhere my lips can reach. Looking to the sky with gratitude of the best moment of my life, I begin what I believe to be the transition to heaven. “Ryder, look.”

  Ryder holds me to him, keeping me a part of him. I feel like I belong to his body. He takes a few steps back, pulling us from the tree in what seems to be astonishment for what his body just experienced with mine. When he looks up at what I’m seeing, Ryder drops to his knees.

  Still inside me, he sits on his heels as we both become entranced. The clouds seem to be picking up speed. Or is it that time is slowing down? The leaves above us glow in the moonlight, as does everything else. I see colorful molecules as if air has a life that I’ve never been enlightened enough to see. Everything, and I mean everything, is alive, communicating in ways I could never have imagined, but here it is.

  Not now, nor ever again will I ignore nature when at its finest.

  Ryder gazes around in amazement. “Rose.”

  “I know. It’s beautiful.”

  All the magical weave of nature begins its dance. I now understand the word that had seemed so odd to me at first.

  Service.

  It’s not meant to be a sexual definition. It is becoming one with the basics of life and offering yourself to serve the very essence of that life in nature, which includes the life in me.

  Ryder and I sit in each other’s embrace, simply becoming… simple. We are still in the warmth of nature and all that we now understand and feel. “Will this feeling last forever?” I ask in awe.

  “One would hope, but life tends to bring challenges and distractions.” His arms tighten around me. “One thing I am sure of is, I will never forget this night.”

  Never would there be a more perfect moment for what I have to say. “I love you.”

  His eyes show a deep warmth until they slowly shut. “I can feel it. Felt nothing better. You are beautiful, Rose.” Ryder opens his eyes, and they are calm. “Can you feel my love?”

  I close my eyes, and this wave of what I can only explain as perfect energy blows through me. If I could begin to imagine what God feels like, this would be it, and it is flowing through my soul. “Yes. I feel you.”

  “You going to wake up today?” Mama’s soft hand rests on my forehead. “You’re a little peaked.” My bed shifts as she sits next to me. “Are you okay?”

  Ryder lives so far away. I don’t even remember getting home. After walking for what felt like forever, I tried to hide being tired, but Ryder insisted on carrying me, saying some nonsense about, “It is our way.” Then I woke up to Mama in my room. Sam lies next to me with his head on my tummy. “Just trying to get used to Ryder’s hours.”

  My eyes open to see her looking up. “Why are there two holes in your wall?”

  I say nothing. I just stare at Ryder’s hand prints on the glass of my window. He was pleading with me, wanting me to let him in. My cheeks flush as I remember last night and how ‘in’ he was—still is. Ryder, Guardian Warrior of Rose, is a part of me now.

  Mama inhales deeply, pulling me from my thoughts. “Rose, I think I am being extremely open-minded with your… boyfriend and all he, uh, entails. So if there is more, I can take it. Hear me?”

  I inhale too, wondering if she really can handle the new events as they unfold. “Yes, ma’am.” I won’t elaborate until I’m sure.

  “Are you okay?”

  Mama and I both look at my window. Ryder is squatting on the roof, waiting for permission to enter, as he puts it. My heart flutters at the sight of him. I’m already desperate to touch him again.

  Mama stands. “Ryder, you are to join us for dinner tonight.”

  There’s a tone in her voice, and Ryder catches it. “Yes, Miss Beverly.”

  Mama refers to me but speaks to him. “This is my daughter. Do you understand we need to talk tonight?” Ryder is now the one inhaling deeply. With irritation, she warns, “I will take that as a yes.” She peers back at me. “You need to eat breakfast—uh, brunch.”

  I raise myself to my elbows and nod, not daring to argue with her in this state. Mama is apparently healed and back in charge. She turns on her heels and marches out of my room. Sam follows.

  When my door shuts, I grin at Ryder, who stares at my door as if he’s not a brave Warrior. I wave him over to me. “Coast is clear.”

  He crawls in bed and snuggles to me from behind. “The coast of an ocean?” I can only laugh as quietly as possible. He nuzzles my neck. “Something I said again?”

  “You weren’t home long.”

  “No. The Guardians and I stayed until dawn. I got some sleep at home and came back to check on you. I only need three hours of sleep. I’m not human like some I know.”

  I smack his arm. “No, you’re not. So you don’t understand how all I want is sleep.”

  Ryder is in my ear. “Is that all you want?” Last night’s activities are clearly front and center in his male mind.

  My eyes close as I pull his arm tighter around me. “How did I get in bed last night?”

  “I jumped to your roof with you, to not wake your mom, and tucked you in.” I look at the blue blanket I had removed from my bed out of anger. It now covers me. Ryder kisses my cheek. “Don’t hold onto anger. It eats your energy matrix.”

  “My what?”

  His low voice is gravely, but his words are gentle. “Everything is made of life, energy, your most essential fuel. We can see how anger and hatred can deplete that energy, weakening humans, causing disease and sometimes… death. I don’t believe Gunner would ever intentionally hurt you—with words or anything else, Rose.”

  I adore the young man holding me in more ways than one. He may be a Warrior sent to protect me from beings I cannot fathom, but he is also a Warrior sent to protect my heart. “I am safe, aren’t I? With you, I am safe. Inside and out.” I used to believe that being loved was to be whisked away with uncontrollable emotions. Now I see it is having someone willing to care for all your needs, even those of the other male in your life. Ryder is a rare breed indeed. I quickly face him in his arms and press my lips to his.

  He growls as he climbs on top of me. I giggle. “What have I started with you?”

  His hips playfully surge. “My most favorite activity.”

  Ryder had a meeting with the Guardians and Isolde. Two guesses on what it was about. But he’s done as Mama told him and come back over for dinner. I’m disappointed seeing him cross my backyard with a shirt on. Haven’t we been over this?

  Walking through my back screen door, Ryder is bombarded with questions. “Are you Rose’s new boyfriend?” Wade and Louisa are at the table, already eating. Ryder looks at me, not knowing what I want to be said.

  I gesture as the annoyed older sister I am. “Ryder, please meet Louisa and Wade.”

  Ryder walks to the table with a medium-sized wooden bowl. “Hello, nice to meet you both.”

  Lulu asks, “Are you Gunner’s friend?”

  Before Ryder gets to answer, Wade says, “We love Gunner.”

  My heart sinks. I hadn’t taken their feelings into consideration.

  Ryder is kind. “I do not blame you. He’s a male of worth.”

  Wade’s a little tough on Ryder. “We won’t stop, either.”

  “Would never ask you to,” Ryder says with respect as if Wade is not too young to earn it.

  “Do you play football?” I guess Wade likes being treated in that manner and is moving on.

  “No, but I would like to learn if you’re willing to teach me.”

  Wade takes a bite and, with a full mouth, says.
“Okay. You’re big enough to handle it.”

  Ryder chuckles, and my heart simmers with wonderful emotions.

  Louisa mischievously grins at Ryder. “You’re a boy. Why’s your hair longer than mine?”

  “Lulu!”

  She eyes his shoulders. “Mama puts braids in my hair sometimes.”

  Ryder holds one of his braids. “My mother did too.”

  Wade is still chewing. “You too old now?”

  “No, she would still do it—if she were still here.”

  Lulu stills in her chair. “Your mommy died, didn’t she?”

  I try again to hush her, but Ryder replies, “Yes, she passed away when I was young.”

  Wade talks with a mature sympathy I’ve never heard him share. “We understand. Our daddy died.”

  And with that, a little bond begins.

  Only people who have lost a parent when young understand the feeling of losing a part of your foundation. Good parents help you reach for the stars. When one dies, sometimes you tumble uncontrollably to the ground.

  Instead of saying he was sorry for our loss, Ryder turns to Mama with the bowl he’s been carrying. “Miss Beverly, I hope you don’t mind, but I brought a salad. The dressing is an old recipe.”

  Mama wipes at her wet eyes. Wade’s words didn’t get past her unnoticed. She takes the bowl. “This smells wonderful, Ryder. Thank you for the kind gesture.”

  “I want some,” Wade demands.

  Mama heads to the dinner table with the salad. “I’m feeding the kids before us so they can bathe while we talk.”

  “Of course,” says Ryder, “but I don’t think they will—”